KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Kalamazoo County visitor spending reached an all-time high in 2021 according to recently published visitor spending figures published by Travel Michigan.
The figures from Tourism Economics revealed that those visiting Kalamazoo County spent a total of $585 million in 2021, marking the second highest rate of growth of the 83 counties in the state. The numbers also indicated that the spending for that year exceeded pre-pandemic levels, with 2021 figures up %16 compared to 2019, all in all representing growth of 50.9% compared to 2020.
The numbers took into account all purchases made by travelers during their visits, and not just at hotels but also at restaurants, retail shops, attractions and other businesses.
President and CEO for Discover Kalamazoo Jane Ghosh said, “Discover Kalamazoo’s primary goal coming out of the pandemic was to get back to 2019 visitor spending levels by the end of 2023. This report from Travel Michigan shows that our community was able to achieve this goal in only one year which is truly remarkable. Congratulations to all our partners across the hospitality industry for the resilience, creativity and hard work which enabled this result.”
Led by Kalamazoo County, the Southwest Michigan region had the fastest growth in visitor spending in 2021 of all Michigan regions, with spending up 39.9% versus 2020.
Visitor spending for the state of Michigan as whole grew by 27.6% in 2021 but was still 8.6% below 2019 levels.
“Kalamazoo County has so much to offer visitors, with world-class attractions, award-winning restaurants, unique shops and abundant outdoor activities,” said Kevin Catlin, Kalamazoo County Administrator and Controller. “This result showcases the important work of Discover Kalamazoo in leveraging these assets to attract visitors to all corners of our county.”
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